Feds could close court in Amarillo

Friday

Federal cost-cutting measures could close dozens of federal courts nationwide, including the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Amarillo and courtrooms in four other Texas cities.

A federal court location on South Polk Street is on the list being considered for closure.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Amarillo operates from leased space in a building at 624 S. Polk St.

The U.S. District Court on Southeast Fifth Avenue, between Taylor and Fillmore streets downtown, is not on the proposed closure list, federal spokesman Dick Carelli said Thursday.

Sixty federal court facilities in 29 states could be on the chopping block. They include court facilities in San Angelo, Lufkin, Pecos and Wichita Falls.

Annual operating costs and rent for the 60 facilities total more than $16 million each year.

Sellers said it's too early to speculate how much could be saved or how many jobs could be lost in closures.

The earliest any decision would be made is September, Carelli said.

There are 674 federal courthouses and facilities around the country, federal courts spokesman David Sellers said.

Most of the courtrooms are in buildings that house other federal agencies, including post offices, and many are located in remote areas. Critics say closing them could make it more difficult for people to get to court proceedings.

Sites being considered for closure do not have a resident judge, Carelli said, but are served by judges who travel from other cities.

Bankruptcy Judge Robert L. Jones, based in Lubbock, presides in Amarillo in person on certain days and by closed-circuit television.

"The federal judiciary is going through an aggressive cost containment effort because the money Congress has provided for the operating expenses for the courts has been essentially frozen the last three years," Sellers said.

A significant portion of that money is used to pay rent for federal court facilities, Sellers said.

JBKA is a real estate holding company partnership between McCartt and Alan Rhodes.

The lease is a 10-year term, with an option to end the deal after five years, McCartt said. JBKA charges a lease rate of $12.50 to $13.50 per square foot, comparable with other office space in the downtown market, he said.

The practice of reviewing court facilities that don't have a resident judge goes back to 1997, Sellers said.

"The fact that this list is generated doesn't necessarily mean that every, or even most, facilities will actually be closed," Carelli said.

Decisions such as court closures are made by the Judicial Conference of the United States, a panel of 27 judges, Carelli said.

U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Amarillo, said the proposed closing of Amarillo's federal bankruptcy court isn't an issue in which he can meddle.

"The Judiciary (Branch) is pretty protective of their ability to make decisions on their own. ... Sometimes they can be a little touchy about other branches meddling in their business," Thornberry said. "Congress approves a certain amount of money for the Judiciary (Branch) and the Judicial Conference has to sort out what to do with that money."

Panels at each of the nation's 12 judicial districts have been asked to submit responses to the closure list by April 13. An opinion of proposed closures in the federal court's 5th Circuit, which includes Texas courts, is yet to be issued, said Jesse D. Cannon Jr., architect for the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

J. Leon Holmes, the chief federal judge of the Eastern District of Arkansas, argued closing court facilities wouldn't make a significant reduction in the federal budget.

"If the federal courts close their facilities in these places, the money will quit going from one pocket of the federal government to another pocket of the federal government, but little or no savings to the taxpayers will be seen," Holmes wrote in a letter dated Feb. 23 and sent to local bar associations.

"Instead, the taxpayers will be forced to travel longer distances to appear in court as parties, witnesses or jurors."

Thornberry said convenience is important, but "there has to be some degree of centralization."

"Obviously, I would prefer for people in our area to have the most convenient access to the courts as possible," Thornberry said.

"No branch of government can or should be exempt from cutting back on government spending."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

*The Amarillo federal court location on the closure list is a U.S. Bankruptcy Court at 624 S. Polk St.

Source: The Associated Press

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